FIVE ESSENTIALS FOR BEING A GOOD SPORT

27.08.2015 23:14

Football season is here again, and we are all very excited! As a 10-year-old football player, my son Dillon is in the process of learning, establishing, and reinforcing valuable lessons about sportsmanship which will help mold him into a good person with strong morals. When I asked him what he thinks are the five essential characteristics of a good sport, he replied, “Respect, integrity, be a team player, lose with dignity, and win with class.” I was so happy to hear that! We talk about those values a lot—almost on a daily basis. As with everything else in life, preparation is the key.

1. Respect – In all its forms, this is one of the most important elements in every sportsman's (or sportswoman’s) life: respect for coaches, fellow players, officials, and, of course, the players on the opposite team. If we lack respect, nobody will be willing to play against us or with us. The coaches will always be annoyed, and instead of building a reputable name for ourselves, we’ll gain a bad reputation, which, unfortunately, always goes farther than a good one. Most great players have been taught respect from a young age—they present the complete package of talent, presentation, respectful demeanor, and much more. One example of respect: when a player is hurt on the field, the other players should always “take a knee.” This shows both respect and genuine concern for the fallen player.

2. Integrity – One of my favorite mottos comes from the title of a great article in Forbes: “Success Will Come and Go, But Integrity Is Forever.” This cannot be more true! Trustworthiness goes a long way. Cheating in sports can ruin not only your reputation, but also the trustworthiness of your whole team. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

3. Be a team player – This is a very important factor. Being a team player is not easy for everyone, but it is a vital element, not only for the sport you play, but also for your future success in life, both personal and professional. Being a team player is a skill you can learn and develop with time. If you are a good player, remember that the other players have their important positions; otherwise, it wouldn’t be a team sport. Do not “overtake the coach's authority.” Leadership is a great quality, but it’s only effective when you also develop the skills to work well with other people.

4. Lose with dignity – This is extremely important! The way you handle your losses shows a lot about your character. Throwing tantrums, crying, and screaming are completely out of the question. Of course, we’ve seen sports stars who teared up because they were so close to the winning point, and that's okay. We can't always win, and it is hard to lose with grace if you’re not used to it. Losing is part of the winning cycle. In fact, when you lose—and especially when you are close to winning—this can motivate you to work harder and to be more successful. If your team loses, don’t blame the other players for the loss, even (and perhaps especially) if there was a particular player who cost the win. Mistakes happen—we’re only human. Don’t call anybody bad names. Try to make the situation better, not worse. Build people up; don’t tear them down. At the same time, don’t be too sensitive. At the end of the day, it is just a game—well, until you start playing professionally. But even then, the rules still apply.

5. Show humility in your victory – I will never forget the moment when I watched Novak Djokovic win Wimbledon in 2011. He literally started nibbling the grass of the stadium. Boris Becker described this act as “unique,” and it certainly raised eyebrows worldwide. Djokovic explained: “I felt like an animal. I wanted to see how it tastes.” Everybody has his own way of dealing with situations, what is your way?